As of 12 January 2025, public administrations across the European Union must conduct interoperability assessments when introducing new or revised requirements for trans-European digital public services. This obligation stems from the Interoperable Europe Act, a key regulation designed to foster seamless cross-border data exchange within the EU’s Digital Single Market.
Interoperability assessments are a vital tool for identifying barriers and opportunities in the legal, semantic, technical, and organisational dimensions of interoperability. These assessments aim to ensure smooth and effective implementation of services such as the mutual recognition of academic qualifications, access to social security information, and digital health records—services that rely on robust cross-border data flows.
Local services that do not involve cross-border exchange, such as municipal parking apps, are generally exempt from these requirements.
To support public sector bodies, the European Commission has introduced guidelines and resources, including an online tool integrated into the Interoperable Europe Portal. This tool will generate multilingual, machine-readable reports and streamline the assessment process. Additionally, the Commission plans to provide training materials and host workshops to upskill public sector employees.
The Interoperable Europe Act, in effect since April 2024, underpins the EU’s vision of a connected and inclusive Digital Single Market, setting a foundation for efficient, cross-border public services.
For more details, visit the Interoperable Europe Portal.
